Negative Peer Pressure

Older generations often feel that today’s teenagers have a lot to cope with that past generations didn’t have to worry about. With the prevalence of sex and violence broadcast on television and the radio all the time, parents can sometimes feel at a loss as to how to help their children navigate today’s society without falling victim to the pressure.

Common Teen Pitfalls

Some issues that many teenagers will have to face include:

• Skipping School-It’s often not easy for teens to see the value in education; skipping school is fun to them. When too many school days are missed, children can easily fall behind and their grades will suffer.
• Smoking-Anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking can attest to how difficult it is. That’s because nicotine is a drug and people who smoke get addicted to it. Many people take up smoking at a young age to look “cool” or older. It’s only when they actually become older and try to quit that they see how hard it is to do. Because smoking cigarettes may not be seen as dangerous as using other, illegal drugs, teens can often be coaxed into trying it.
• Sex-The media is heavily invested in the idea that “sex sells.” From beer ads to clothing lines, messages on being sexy fill our lives all the time. It’s in the music kids listen to as well as on the magazine covers they see in grocery store checkout lines. Sexual activity is no longer relegated to prime time TV; daytime TV is also full of talk about sex or characters who are sexually active without suffering any of the consequences, such as sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies.

• Drugs-Because children often believe themselves invincible, often having a “it won’t happen to me attitude,” it’s hard to convince them at times that drugs can kill. Marijuana can seem harmless, although it’s often a gateway drug into other narcotics and serious addiction.
• Alcohol-While many teenagers don’t realize it, alcohol is a drug and can be as addicting and dangerous as other, illegal drugs. Because a lot of advertisements promote drinking as a fun social activity (putting “drink in moderation” in fine print), a lot of young adults fail to see the possible dangers of drinking.
• Gangs-For children without a strong parental presence at home, a gang can become a foster family, promoting a false sense of security. Because gangs so often participate in dangerous activities, teens can get caught up in a violent lifestyle that’s nearly impossible to break away from.

Fighting Negative Peer Pressure

Because so many adults can be impressionable, it’s easy to see why teenagers can be so negatively influenced into doing things they might not have the courage to do without being egged on by their peers. How can parents or other concerned adults help teens avoid or fight the negative peer pressure that will probably plague them at some point?

• Listen-Being a teenager can be an awkward time in anyone’s life. Having someone willing to listen to them helps a great deal, even if they don’t always seem open to communicating with you. Make sure your teen knows that he or she always has a willing listener in you and that you’ll listen without judging harshly or condemning them for coming to you.
• Talk-While children seem to not always listen to their parents, they often listen without acknowledging. You don’t always have to have a formal “meeting” with your kids. Talk to them while riding to and from school, while watching a movie together, while walking together around the neighborhood…take advantage of any time you have with your teen.
• Involve Them-Children who are active in sports or social activities tend to get into less trouble because their hours are filled with constructive things to do.
• Empower Them-Some kids, just like some adults, are more impressionable than others. It will be easy for certain teens to fight peer pressure, while others will really struggle. One thing parents can do is to make sure their kids know that their choices are exactly that: choices. They have the ability to do the right thing and influence their friends. When you tell your kids that you know they’re strong, honest people who can lead others instead of blindly following, you’re helping them believe that.